United are in the final stages of sealing the surprise transfer 12 years after Ronaldo was sold to Real Madrid having offered ?25m plus add-ons to the Italian club. The 36-year-old is now expected to agree a contract for the next two seasons after Ole Gunnar Solskjær admitted that he would welcome back a “legend” of the club.
Manchester City had seemed the most likely destination for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner until Friday morning. But after a whirlwind 48 hours that saw Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, hold talks with Juventus officials in Turin on Wednesday over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium, City confirmed on Friday lunchtime that they were no longer interested.
Ronaldo has less than 12 months of his contract with Juventus that is worth an estimated ?31m a season after tax and it is understood that City were reluctant to pay a fee for a player who will turn 37 in February having also never agreed personal terms over a proposed two-year contract. It is understood that United have agreed a deal in principle with the Italian club with a view to re-signing the player that joined from Sporting Lisbon as a teenager and spent six seasons at Old Trafford before moving to Madrid for a world record £80m in 2009.
